Dirty Rental

[Deleted User]

Same as previous stories.., I left my place spotless, found the new place with years of dirt. Both council places, it was a council forced swap but we weren't able to do a proper viewing and wouldn't have done any good if I'd complained. I just got to and cleaned the new place as well as the one we'd left.

Just the way things are I think. Although for that level of rent I'd have been rather put out as well. You could try complaining but by the time they get a cleaning company in (if they do) you'll have had to live with it for some days. Probably quicker to just clean it however irksome that is.

Pixie5740

Lulu0110 wrote: »

The inventory was 34 pages of descriptions of various types of mess, dirt and stains. I did not get this until after I had the keys and what with moving in plus a family funeral and the death of our beloved 16 year old dog I only started to clean the other bathrooms today. My son is a student and money is often deducted for cleaning even when they have cleaned. My point I suppose is why am i responsible for cleaning year on year of filth when money is deducted when a place is unclean. I do not have OCD but this isn't light dirt its long term unclean and as I didn't do it why am I the one responsible for raking it out?

The majority of tenants don't receive the inventory before getting the keys. All that matters is that the check-in inventory is accurate, so is it accurate?

You don't know if money was or should have been deducted from the previous tenant's deposit for cleaning. I know you've said money has been taken from son for cleaning even though he and his friends have cleaned properties before leaving but it's very possible that those deductions could have been challenged.

Why should you clean the property? Because it's now your home and you want your husband to flourish.

saajan_12

Lulu0110 wrote: »

The inventory was 34 pages of descriptions of various types of mess, dirt and stains. - Thats a good thing, make sure it details all the issues. I did not get this until after I had the keys - that's normal, when you get the keys & inventory you can check it reflects the true condition. and what with moving in plus a family funeral and the death of our beloved 16 year old dog I only started to clean the other bathrooms today- that's fine, up to you!. My son is a student and money is often deducted for cleaning even when they have cleaned- well was it AS clean as when they moved in? Do they have pictures to prove this? If yes, they could have claimed the deposit back through the protection scheme / courts. . My point I suppose is why am i responsible for cleaning year on year of filth when money is deducted when a place is unclean- money should be deducted when a place is MORE UNCLEAN AFTER THAN BEFORE THE TENANCY. . I do not have OCD but this isn't light dirt its long term unclean and as I didn't do it why am I the one responsible for raking it out?- you're not responsible, it's now your home so you can keep it how you like. When you leave, you only need to leave it in the same condition as you received it.

Don't worry about other properties. With this one, you now live there so keep it how you like. You only have to return it in the same condition you received it.

Mrs_pbradley936

Some people just do not see dirt! I have some experience of letting and some people are spotless and others have lived in the place for a couple of years and have never wiped the skirting with a damp Jay cloth or put a squirt of bleach down the toilet!

If you are clean yourself then these things shout at you - but if you are less fussy you cannot see a problem.

As others have said being spick and span is not a legal requirement. Think of it as yet another of life's experiences!!

always_sunny

Lulu0110 wrote: »

I moved into a rental which is just filthy. Who is responsible for this? I thought that part of the deposit was held back from the previous tenant and used to clean it?

You're getting too worked up on this; hire a cleaner and get it as spotless as you like it.
Document the filth in the inventory report and return it in the same conditions.
Look at it as you're forking out for a cleaner and you will enjoy the results rather than forking out for a cleaner to handover a clean property to someone else!

theartfullodger

There is nothing unlawful about renting out a filthy place (unless downright dangerous). Stupid thing to do by landlord mind.

Simply take loads of photos (date/time stamped, ideally with witness), write a calm & polite letter to landlord (yes LANDLORD), copy agent, keep copy), expressing your sadness and disappointment of the filth, but confirming you will return it in the same state, less fair wear 'n tear.

This does however indicate you are dealing with at least one idiot (either landlord or person dealing with things) and I'd brace myself for more daft-ness. Write/email landlord & bloke-looking-after-stuff and ask which letting agent redress scheme he belongs to. See
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/letting_agent_redress_schemes

- if he doesn't, then ask landlord for evidence HMRC, copy form NRL1i, have agreed he can get ALL rent & you don't have to withhold 20%. See
https://www.gov.uk/tax-uk-income-live-abroad/rent
&
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-resident-landlord-application-to-have-uk-rental-income-without-deduction-of-uk-tax-individuals-nrl1
- place the 20% of rent in separate account for when tax-man asks for it.

Sounds like they don't know what they are doing. I'd also want evidence he's got a B2L mortgage or permission-to-let, EPC is OK, GSC seen, copy of landlord insurance policy. (eg if wrong insurance & place burns down, you 'orribly maimed, no payout, no cover....)

Don't push for deposit protection, copy EPC & "How to rent" as them getting that wrong is to your advantage.

Sorry to hear of dog.

G_M

theartfullodger wrote: »

...... Write/email landlord & bloke-looking-after-stuff and ask which letting agent redress scheme he belongs to. See
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/letting_agent_redress_schemes

I'm not sure of the legal definition (for these purposes) of a 'letting agency'.

I suspect, though, that it applies to a business operating in property lettng, and may well not apply to an individual

the person who deals with stuff lives nearby.

I'd be interested to know though.

robatwork

Sounds a bit too late to be asking who's responsible.

When I rented a few years ago the place had been empty a while. It had dead flies on the carpet and was in dire need of a deep clean. Before I moved in I took pics, and negotiated with LL - I asked if he would clean it or if I would and knock off rent money. He agreed to forego the first month's rent, which I thought was very fair.

With the money saved I got in a carpet washer, and spent 3 days in rubber gloves bleaching everything solid. But that was all before moving.

I would get your unflourishing HB to do the majority of it. Men can clean.

Cheeky_Monkey

Lulu0110 wrote: »

My husband didn't make the mess. He would be unaware of such things but he flourishes in cleaner environments that I create.

Even more reason for him to have noticed the filth then, I would've thought!

Red-Squirrel_2

Oh dear, it sounds like your husband has cocked up here and not realised he was agreeing to rent a grubby house!

I agree with the poster who said he should be the one scrubbing it, he'll never make the same mistake again, and that's what I call flourishing!